Aanker

Esinohio made a 3D render of the F-14 in Blender, the image got featured on the Facebook page!

I think, if you're willing to kill people (copies or not) in your experiment, the conscience we need to discuss is not that of the test subject but the experimenting scientist.

That is correct (see 1:52 for a maneuver that these planes could do long before there even was a Russian translation for 'cobra' ) It so happens that it is one of my favorite aircraft, as Captain Sierra put it, its shape demands the use of words we would typically reserve for other things than the materialistic.

??? What is the mystery airplane?

Amazing @_@

I'll add the modded DL links to the OP! Also thanks - they're actually the NCS nosecones (but the SAS ones are very similar except for the pitot and some other additional equipment). Also the NCS adapter fuel tanks are very useful.

Thanks guys, oh yeah, I added a list of action groups to the flight guide since I didn't split up the stages - I don't use FAR!

KERHEED F-104 STARFIGHTER At Kerheed, we understood that modern fighter combat would be less dependent on the agility or turning ability of an aircraft, and more a question of high speed stability for long range interception and air strikes. That's why we developed the F-104 Starfighter, to completely outclass the top of the line fighters of our opponents and halt the tide of Kemunism worldwide. Inspired by the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter SPECIFICATIONS Parts: 84 Mass: 14.1t Crew: 1 Height: 3.7m Wingspän: 7.4m (external fuel tanks included); Length: 13.0m Powerplant(s): 1x Double J-X4 Whiplash Turbo Ramjet Engine Maximum SL Speed: Mach 1 Maximum Speed: Mach 3+ @17.5 km altitude Turn radius: "Banking with intent to turn" OPERATIONAL GUIDE Commands 1 - Start Engine(s) 2 - Open drogue chute 3 - Cut drogue chute Takeoff The F-104 is stable on takeoff and will not divert either left or right, but the pilot must accelerate to at least 100 m/s before commencing rotation or the engine at the rear may impact the runway. Landing Approach the runway at 150 m/s. For the final approach, slow down to 90-100 m/s and land with a minimal application of pitch. Use airbrakes and the drogue chute to minimize the length of runway necessary. Flight The F-104 is very stable at high speeds - and rolls well - but it is not very maneuverable. If in air-to-air combat, attempt to perform hit-and-run attacks instead of relying on turns to gain your advantage over the enemy. LINK http://kerbal.curseforge.com/shareables/230584-kerheed-f-104-starfighter-stock-replica ALBUM

I think it's going to be more like a USS Nimitz or something in orbit Also, the Spacecat is now available (currently under curseforge review):

Aim for the stars Banking with intent to turn

I'm starting to think someone should make a zeppelin challenge... Rate them by no. of planes carried, mass etc.

You could always try PMing Bugs as he got something working with IR - for stock variable wings, you'd probably have to go bigger In the meantime, I'm working on the F-114 Spacecat. PS. And then the race is on to build a working U.S. Navy carrier that can go to orbit.

You should attach some biplanes to that

Interesting, I always appreciate learning more about my favorite planes. Umläuts!

Good to hear that you got it working! Feel free to make edits etc. I actually experimented with adding an airbrake there purely for the visuals, but there was no way to disable the airbrake activation upon pressing the break button, so that was that. Thanks! The banner shot is some basic post-screenshot photo manipulation. Mostly related to curves and colour levels. I personally think the sunset and sunrise on Kerbin are a bit disappointing in terms of visual effects on their own.

Just put the downloaded .craft file in the correct directory (C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\Kerbal Space Program\saves\SAVENAME\Ships\SPH), do not open or otherwise edit it. It contains text information (basically code lines), so I'm guessing your computer for some reason believes it is a .mht file, but it should stay .craft. The transition to .mht may make a backward edit to .craft incompatible with KSP.

Will check that out, hang on! I get a .craft file, it might be your browser or computer that is doing something. What is your browser? And your OS?

KRUMMAN F-14 TOMCAT Freedom. Democracy. Liberty. The folks over at Krumman hold these core principles of our nation close to their hearts throughout the design and construction process of every new fighter. And that is why Krumman produces the best fighters in the world. The F-14 is finely tailored to the needs of the K.S. Navy, built to achieve supreme air superiority and dominate the skies. If this just doesn't convince you of the necessity to have the F-14 in your fighter lineup, just watch the video below. Now, let's get back to business. Inspired by the Grumman F-14 Tomcat SPECIFICATIONS There are two versions of the Krumman F-14 Tomcat. One has its wings swept forward for maximum maneuverability and excellent handling at low airspeeds. The other has its wings swept backward for high speed performance and stability. (in reality, the maximum speed difference between the two versions is minimal) Parts: 71 Mass: 15.2t Crew: 1-2 Height: 3.9m Wingspan: 13.1m (wings forward version); Length: 11.7m Powerplant(s): 2x J-X4 Whiplash Turbo Ramjet Engines Maximum SL Speed: Mach 1 Maximum Speed: Mach 3+ @18.0 km altitude OPERATIONAL GUIDE Takeoff The Krumman F-14 Tomcat is stable on the takeoff run, but the pilot must be careful not to rotate too much, or critical rear fuselage components (such as the engines) may impact the ground. A slow rotation, with minimal pitch, is best especially for the wings forward version. Flight The wings forward version is highly maneuverable and capable of astonishing aerobatics. Be careful at higher speeds however, as this supreme flight performance then becomes dangerous in the wrong hands: do not exceed the angle of attack too much or airframe integrity may be compromised. The wings backward version is slightly less maneuverable, but more stable - a trait especially useful at high speeds. Landing For both versions, approach runway at 100 m/s. For the final approach, slow down to no less than 45 m/s in both versions. The airframe is rather sturdy and can handle bounces well, but do remember not to flair too much or the rear fuselage may impact the ground. LINK http://kerbal.curseforge.com/shareables/230485-krumman-f-14-tomcat-stock-replica ALBUM The appearance of this craft for 1.0.3 has changed: SSTO Version The SSTO version, the SF-14A Spacecat, is shown in the image below: I will include a flight manual for this bird as well. Download on the same page as the regular F-14. Infernal Robotics Variable Sweep Version Ayram made an Infernal Robotics, fully functional variable sweep wings version and also combined this with BD Armory and P.E.W.: See his post here for download links

Thanks! I'm not overly familiar with aircraft technical terms, what is an 'artificial feel system pressure head'? Anyway, I can add a pitot on the vertical stabilizer? For now I'd like to keep them separate until I build up something that more resembles a launch library if you will, then I could start an actual 'company thread'.

What limits your craft in many cases appears to be radially mounted parts (esp. fuselage sections per experiments with external fuel tanks and 'missiles') which increase drag, so the more engines you can slap on to a smaller area at the rear (thus needing less fuselages), the better? N.B. I've gotten pretty lazy the past week when it comes to spaceplane launches - if my design can't get to orbit on a simple 25-45 deg ascent it usually gets scrapped or reworked. So naturally my experience with spaceplanes is based on this approach.

Now all I need is a carrier.

KAAB 37 Thunderbolt The Körbal Ädvanced Aviönics Bureäu is proud to present the latest instållment in its proud line of innovative, cutting edge and above all just magnificently good-lööking fighters. Built to defend the airspace of the cold northern nätion öf Kweden, where young Kerbals are taught to fight polar beärs and umlauts reign supreme, the KAAB 37 Thunderbolt is intended to serve where other fighter jets cännot: on icy windswept airfields, cracked asphålt roads, even dirt and gravel runways in the middle of the förest! Inspired by the Swedish SAAB 37 'Viggen' (Thunderbolt) Specifications Pårts: 93 Mass: 15.7t Crew: 1-2 Height: 4.7m Wingspän: 8.3m Length: 12.6m Powerplant(s): 1x Völvö Modified, Double J-X4 Whiplash Turbo Ramjet Engine (for realistic performance, I had to merge together two turbojets - no Z fighting though) Maximum SL Speed: Mach 1 Maximum Speed: Mach 3 @17.0 km altitude Utility Equipment: 1x External Fuel Tank Operational Guide Commands 1 - Toggle engine 2 - Drop fuel tank Takeoff Takeoff is a very straightforwård procedure: just commence rotation as soon as possible. The KAAB 37 is äble to fly at very low airspeeds. Flight The KAAB 37 is an extraordinarily stable fighter. It also turns relåtively well. As we say in Kweden: "just enöugh is best". Do not be afraid of exceeding the structural integrity of the aircråft in high speed maneuvers - it's simply impossible! Landing Drop the external fuel tänk before landing. Approach the runway at around 100-120 m/s, för the final approach, lower this speed to around 70-80 m/s. Link http://kerbal.curseforge.com/shareables/230456-kaab-37-thunderbolt-stock-replica Album

Even though Space.com tends to be rather speculative and sensationalist, they did have a pretty good interview* with an engineer who was familiar with (but not involved in) the EM drive research. Apparently, to his understanindg, thrust had not been consistently produced through all the tests (approaching near random success apparently?) and the levels of thrust were so small that they were on the margin of detectability (as another poster stated). I think this invention is being overplayed. People are looking for the next big breakthrough in space tech, but this just doesn't seem to be it. I'm sure we will see amazing engines and maybe even the fabled (sub-light) warp drives in the future through multiple major discoveries and new ideas - but usually it takes more than just random chance to produce revolutionizing change. http://m.space.com/29363-impossible-em-drive-space-engine-nasa.html

People have predicted the moral, biological and societal degradation and inevitable End of Mankind since at least the pyramids. When Attila roamed the steppes of Europe and the Western Roman Empire was in its death throes (from a combination of failing agriculture, internal strife, economic woes and corruption), some even thought the apocalypse was upon them! Humans tend to see problems before they see the solutions - and once a problem has been solved, another one is found. I think it is a fallacy to assume that history will repeat itself in this way indefinitely (because even the universe as we know it has an definite end point in time, whether that be a cold death or a big rip or somesuch), but I don't foresee the end of mankind happening anytime soon.

The fuselage merging is real, but it looks nice.